Sanding machine



y 1934- i i c. M. LAMB 1,960,383

SANDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 67/19/9455 )7 [,9/15

ATTORNEY.

May 29, 1934. c, M, L MB I 1,960,383

SANDING MACHINE '-Filed 001;. 14, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 w Q II w m I, l'

Z l INVENTOR.

BY W fif q ATTORNEY.

C. M. LAMB SANDING MACHINE May 29, 1934.

Filed Oct. 14. 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 II I? 6 INVENTOR. 57/ 215: film/,5

BY 6M 2 ATTORNEY.

C. M. LAMB SANDING MACHINE May 29, 1934.

Filed Oct. 14, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

y 1934- c. M. LAMB 1,960,383

SANDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. 0999/9165 /2 10/15 v V/ BY W 6M 6/ V Z ATTORNEY.

Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED STATES AT'ENT OFFICE 1'7 Claims.

This invention relates to sanding machines and the principal feature and object of the invention resides in the provision of a machine of this character in which the abrasive element is maintained, a fixed, predetermined distance above the bed plate on which the work moves thereby holding the dimensions of the work within extremely close limits.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a machine of this character for finishing the face of wood type or the like which is provided with means for holding one face of the type firmly against the bed plate, on which the type slides beneath the sanding element, so that the distance between the face and back of all the type is uniform.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a machine of this character which is provided with a reciprocating sanding element and which is provided with means for accurately positioning the sanding element whereby the lower edge of the same is caused to traverse a fixed predetermined path.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a machine of this character having a rotatingsanding element that is reciprocated laterally, the machine being provided with means for adjustingthe distance of the lower edge of the sanding element from the bed plate whereby the depth of the work passing beneath the sanding wheel may be maintained within very close limits, the machine further being provided with for causing each point in the lower edge of the periphery of the sanding wheel to traverse a horizontal plane thereby maintaining a uniformity of depth to the work.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a machine of this character which is provided with means for removing any surplus material from the lower surface of the work as it passes beneath the sanding element and which is further provided with means for holding the work in pressure contact with the upper, surface of the bed plate.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of amachine of this character having a rotatable sanding wheel, the machine being provided with means for maintaining the lower periphery of the wheel at a predetermined angle whereby the forward edge of the wheel cuts a minimum amount of material from the face of the work and the distance of the rear edge of the wheel from thesurfaceof the bed plate determines the'depth of the work.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel arrangement of parts and details of con- .struction.

These objects and the several novel features of the-invention are hereinafter more fully described and'claimed and the preferred form ofconstruction for which these objectsare attained is shown on the accompanying drawings in which-- Fig. 1 is a side-elevational view of my improved sanding machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan viewtaken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional viewtaken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is asimilar view taken online 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8. Sfi

Fig. 10 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 1010 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of-a printedpiece of Work.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the method of sanding the type face.

Fig. 13 is a section taken on line 1313 of Fig. 12, showing themethod of holding the type against the bed plate.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view-taken on line 1.414 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 1515 of Fig. 14..

Referring to the drawings, the plate .1 is suitably supported by the end frames 2 and the intermediate frame 3, the lower ends .of the same preferably resting on the floor. An electric motor 4-is supported on the plate 1 adjacent one side thereof and drives the pulley 5, the belt 5 and the pulley 7 mounted on the jack shaft 8. The shaft 8 is mounted insuitablebearings 9.carried by the frames 2 and 3. One endofthe shaft 8 hasthe bevel pinion 10 suitably.connectedthereto, the samemeshing withthe bevel gear 11. The bevel gear ll is mounted on.the shaft 12 androtation of the same moves the belt 13 to'rotate the pulley 14, the same being mounted .upon the shaft 15.

The brush 16 is mounted on the shaft 15 and the shaft is carried in the adjustable bearings 17 for permitting adjustment of the brush to compensate for wear of the bristles. The bed plate 18 is bolted or otherwise secured to the upper face of the plate 1 and projects from one end thereof as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and the same is provided with an aperture 19 through which the periphery of the brush 16 extends. The bars 20 are secured to the upper face of the bed plate 18 and a fiat strip 21 is secured to the upper surface of each of the bars 20, and by referring to Fig. 10, it will be seen that the adjacent edges of the strips 21 project slightly beyond the sides of the respective bars 20 to which they are attached fora purpose to be hereinafter described.

The strips 22 are in longitudinal alignment with the bars 20 and terminate in an upwardly inclined portion 23 as best shown in Fig. 1. The strips 22 are suitably supported by the frame work 24, the same being secured at the lower end to the frame 2.

The feed rolls 25, 26, 27 and 28 are adjustably supported in a manner to be hereinafter described and it will be noted by referring to Fig. 2 that the periphery, of the rolls, stops short of the inner edge of the strips 21 to engage the grooved ends 29 of the block 30 which may be in the form of wood type as shown in Fig. 11.

The strips 21 are preferably made of spring steel and the ends of the same adjacent the plate 1 are depressed by the springs 31, thesame being adjustable by the nut 32 for varying the tension on the ends of the strips. The plates 33 and 34 are secured to the bed plate 18 by the bolts 35 and a plurality of spring metal strips or fingers 36 are secured to the plate 33 and a similar series of fingers or strips 3'? are secured to the plate 34.

By referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the adjacent ends of the fingers 36 and 3'? extend beyond the adjacent sides of the plates 33 and 34 and are slightly downwardly curved as indicated at 38 for holding the work tightly against the bed plate 18. A pulley 39 is suitably secured to the shaft 8 and the belt 40 is driven by rotation of the pulley and the pulley 41 is driven bymovemerit of the belt 40 and rotates the shaft 42 carried in the split bearing 43.

The wheel 44 is secured tothe opposite end of the shaft 42 and the periphery of the wheel is covered by the relatively coarse sand paper 45 and the relatively fine sand paper 46 for a purpose also to be hereinafter described. The split bearing 47 encircles the'shaft 42 adjacent the end to which the wheel 44 is connected, and

the upper half of the bearing block rides against the lower surface of the plate 48, the same being pivotally mounted by the pins 49 engaging in suitable apertures in the vertical standards 50. The upper ends of the standards are connected together by the cross bars 51 between which is pivotally mounted the block 52, the same being apertured approximately central thereof for receiving the rod 53, the upper end of the same extending through the spring 54 and having a nut 55 threaded thereon for adjusting the tension on the spring 54. The lower end of the rod 53 is provided with an enlarged head 56 which engages beneath the base of the inverted U shaped member 57, the same being pivotally sewill hold the upper periphery of the shaft against the upper half of the bearing 47 and will hold the upper half of the bearing block against the plate 48 so that the shaft 42 cannot possibly move upwardly, as all lost motion between the parts is taken up by the spring 54, thereby holding the lower periphery of the grinding wheel 44 a fixed distanceabove the upper face of the bed plate 18. The lower end of each of the standards 50 is formed with a threaded aperture 61 in which is threaded the end 62 of the adjusting screw 63. The lower end 64 of the adjusting screw 63 is alsothreaded and the same threadedly engages an aperture in the worm gear 65 position in the housing 66 secured to the under surface of the plate 1.

By referring to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the threads on the end 62 are relatively fine in comparison to the threads on the end 64 so that when a wrench is placed on the enlarged portion 67 of the adjusting screw 63 and the screw rotated that either of the standards 50 may be raised or lowered as desired.

It will be seen that both of the standards 50 are provided with this adjustment so that every point in the lower periphery of the wheel 44 may be caused to traverse a horizontal plane;

A pointer 68 is secured to the lower end of each of the standards 50 and the periphery of secured to one end thereof, the same also having graduations thereon for indicating the dis:

tance the standards 56 are. raised or lowered.

It will thus be noted that by rotating the adjusting wheel 71 that each of the standards 50 will 'be raised or lowered the same distance, thereby varying the distance of the lower periphery of the wheel 44 from the bed plate 18. A

relatively stiff spring 74 surrounds the end 64 j of theadjusting screw and the upper end abuts the nut '75, while the lower end abuts the upper i surface of the plate 1, thereby holding the adjusting screw upwardly. at all times to prevent any inaccuracy due to lost motion in the cooperating part.

As best illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 a trunnion '76 is pivotally connected at 77 to the bearing block 43 and is pivotally mounted upon the lower end of the pin 78, the other end of the pin being threaded for engagement with the nut 79 resting on the upper end of the standard 80, that in turn being suitably secured to the plate 1 by means of'the bolts 81. i

It will thus be noted that the rear end of the shaft 42 carried in the bearing 43 is free for rotation therein and is also free for reciprocatory lateral movement and free for adjustment in a vertical plane.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5 it will be seen that the plate 48 is provided with an arcuate slot 32, the center of which is the vertical axis of the pin 78. It will be seen that the bolts 59 ride in the slot 82 as the shaft 42 is reciprocated laterally in a manner to be now described.

Referring more particularly now to Figs. 1, 4 and 5 it will be seen that the pulley 83 is suitably mounted upon the shaft 8 and drives the belt 84, the same driving the pulley which rotates the vertically extending shaft 86 through the speed reducer 87, the same being carried by the bracket 88 secured to the lower surface of the plate 1. a

The disc 89 is mounted upon the upper end of the shaft 86 and is provided with a slot or groove 90 whichis engaged by the tongue 91 formed on the lower surface of the plate 92, the same being adjustably secured to the disc 89 by means of the screws or bolts 93. The link 94 is pivotally secured at 95 to the plate 92 and the opposite end of the same is pivotally secured at 96 to the bearing block 4'7.

It will be seen therefore that by adjusting the plate 92 relative to the disc 89 that the stroke or lateral movement of the shaft 42 may be varied as desired. It will be further noted that as the disc 89 rotates that the link 94 will act as a crank to reciprocate the shaft 42 and the wheel 44 so that the lower surface of the wheel will traverse the entire upper surface of the work to provide a smooth finish to the work passing thereunder.

It will be seen by referring to Figs. 11 and 13 that the ends 29 of the type 30 are formed with the grooves 97. As the work is fed toward the wheel 44 the overhanging edges of the strips 21 will engage in the grooves 97 in the work and as the work passes over the brush 16 any loose material thereon will be removed by the brush and the downwardly flared ends of the strips 20 will force the work intoclose engagement with the upper surface of the bed plate 18 and since the edges of the fingers 36 and 37 engage in the grooves 97 in the work, the lower surface of the work will at all-times be held in contact with the bed plate 18 as the work moves beneath the wheel 44.

Referring to Fig. 12 it will be seen that the axis of the wheel 44 is upwardly inclined relative to the plane of movement of the blocks 30, the shaft 42 supporting the wheel being at a slight angle to the horizontal in the construction shown.

It will thus be noted that the amount of material removed from the surface of the work will be very gradual and the rear edge of the wheel 44 will provide the finishing cut on the surface of the work and the distance of the rear edge of the wheel from the bed plate will determine the depth of the work. The work will pass from beneath the wheel 44 into the channel shaped trough 98 which is held in place by the spring pressed latch 99. When the channel shaped trough 98 is filled, the same may be removed and another substituted therefor.

It will be seen that since the plate 48 is pivotally mounted between the standard 50 that the same will accommodate itself to any angle at which the shaft 42 may be set for operation and always maintain itself in surface contact with the upper face of the bearing block 47.

The work is placed in the machine at'the upper end of the frame 24 and a member similar to the channel shaped trough 98 ordinarily carries the work and is positioned adjacent the upper end of the frame 24 and will slide by gravity down the inclined surface 23 and will move into engagement with the feed rolls 25 and 27 by the weight of the upper pieces of work.

A pulley 100 is driven by the pulley 85 through the speed reducer 87 and drives the belt 101 which in turn rotates the pulley 102, the same driving the sprocket chain 103 through the speed reducer 104, the same being secured to the plate l by means of the bracket 105. The sprocket chain 103 rotates the shaft 106 to the lower end of which the gear 107 is suitably connected and the gear 107 meshes with the gear 108 aifixed to the lower end of the shaft 109. A sprocket chain 110 drives the shaft 111 from the shaft 106 for rotating the feed roll 28 and a sprocket chain 112 drives the shaft 113 for rotating the feed roll 27. A sprocket chain 114 is driven by rotation of the shaft 109 and rotates the shaft 115 for driving the feed roll 26 and a sprocket chain 116 is driven by rotation of the shaft 115 to rotate the shaft 117 for driving the feed roll 25. The shafts 113 and 111 are carried in suitable bearings in the C shaped bracket 118 while the shafts 115 and 117 are supported in a similar bracket 119.

A rod 120 is rotatable through the handle 121 and the rod is provided with the threaded end 122 which is engaged by the sliding nut 123 positioned in the member 124 the same being pivotally mounted upon the pin 125. The spring 126 encircles the threaded end 122 and puts pressure upon the nut 128 to hold the feed rolls in spring pressure contact with the work.

It will be seen by rotating the handle 121 that the rolls 25 and 26 may be moved from or toward the rolls 27 and 28 to accommodate different widths of work. It will be understood of course that the bars 20 and the strips 21 may be adjustably positioned to accommodate different widths of work and likewise that the-plates 33 and 34 may be similarly adjusted.

It will be noted that when one piece of work has passed beneath the wheel 44 the same may be tested for depth and if the depth is too great or too little then the wheel 44 may be raised the desired number of thousandths of an inch by rotating the handle 71, or if the depth of one side is greater than the depth of the opposite side then the plate 48 may be leveled by adjusting one of the screws 63 to cause all of the points on the periphery of the wheel 44 to traverse a horizontal plane during the lateral movement of the wheel.

It will be further noted that since the wheel 44 is hung on the rod 53 and that in turn is supported by the spring 54, that any lost motion due to wear of the parts or to loose fit of the parts, will be compensated for, as the spring will hold all of the parts against the upper surface of their respective bearings. It will thus be seen that when the wheel 44 is once properly adjusted that practically no variation can occur in the depths of the different pieces of work as they come from the machine.

This feature is of vital importance in making wood type, as even small variations in the depth of the type will not give a uniform printed surface when used in a printing machine.

It will be understood of course that the device is not necessarily limited for use'in finishing wood type as the same may be used with any type of wood work in which it is desired to hold the same to a uniform depth.

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that I have provided a sanding machine for finishing wood type or the like that is extremely accurate to permit precision work, further that the device is simple in operation and is quickly and easily adjustable for different conditions.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is ,1. In a machine of the character described, a bed plate, an abrasive element positioned thereabove, meansfor moving a piece of work along the bed plate at a slight angle to and beneath the abrasive element and means for imparting a reciprocatory lateral movement to theabrasive element transversely of thedirection of movement of the work whereby the entire surface of the work is subjected to the abrading operation.

2. In a machine of the character described, a bed plate, an abrasive element positioned thereabove, means for moving a piece of work along the bed plate at a slight angle to and beneath the abrasive element, spring means for exerting pressure on the Work as it moves along the bed plate for maintaining the lower face of the same in the surface contact with the bed plate and means for imparting a reciprocatory lateral movement to the abrasive element transversely of the direction of movement of the work whereby the entire surface of the work is subjected to the abrading operation. g

3. In a machine of the character described, a bed plate, an abrasive element positioned thereabove and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, means for moving a piece of work along the bed plate beneath the abrasive element at a relatively slight angle to said horizontal axis thereof, means for rotating the abrasive element and means for imparting a reciprocatory movement thereto transversely of its axis of rotation.

4. In a machine of the character described, a-

bed plate, a rotative abrasive element positioned ,thereabcve, means for moving pieces of work in succession along the bed plate and beneath theabrasive element, spring means for exerting pressure on the said work pieces during move- .ment thereof along the bed plate for maintaining sive element positioned, above the bed plate,

means for moving a piece of work along the bed plate and beneath the abrasive element, said aperture of the plate being forwardly of the posie tion of the abrasive element, means extending through the aperture and engaging the lower face of the work for removing any loose material therefrom prior to passing beneath the abrasive element, spring means .for exerting pressure on the work as it moves along the bed plate, for holding the lower face of the same in surface contact with the bed plate and means for imparting a reciprocatory lateral movement to the abrasive element.

6. In a machine of the character described, a bed plate, anabrasive element positioned thereabove, means for maintaining the lower surface of the abrasive element at an angle, to the surface of the bed plate, the lower surfaceof the abrasive element sloping upwardly toward the work as the same is moved toward the abrasive element and means for imparting reciprocatory lateral movement to the abrasive element.

'7. In a machine of the character described, an abrasive element, a bed plate positioned therebelow, a bearing for the abrasive element, a plate positioned above the bearing and in sliding engagement therewith, spring means for supporting the weight of the abrasive element and for holding the bearing in engagement with, the plate, whereby the lower edge of the abrasive element is maintained at a fixed predetermined distance above the bed plate and means for imparting reciprocatory lateral movement to the abrasiveelement.

8. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable abrasive element, a bed plate positioned therebelow, a shaft connected to the abrasive element for rotating the same, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing for the shaft, a plate positioned above the bearing and in sliding engagement therewith, spring means for supporting the weight of the abrasive element and for holding the bearing in engagement with the plate whereby the lower edge of the abrasive element is maintained at a fixed predetermined dis tance above the bed plate and means for imparting reciprocatory lateral'movement to the having abed plate, for finishing the surface of a piece of work having arpair of grooves in op positely disposed vertical faces thereof, spring fingers positioned above the bed plate for engaging in the grooves in the work for exerting downward pressure thereon for holding the lower surface of the Work in close contact with the upper surface of the bed plate, an abrasive element positioned above the bed plate and in the path of travel of thework as it moves through the machine and means for imparting reciprocatory lateral movement to the abrasive element.

10. In a machine of the character described, a

bed plate, means for passing a work piece along the bed plate, a rotatable abrasive element positioned thereabove, means for maintaining the lower edge of the abrasive element at a fixed pre determined angle relative to the bed plate and surface of the work to be finished and means for imparting a reciprocatory movement to the to the abrasive element transversely of its axis of rotation.

11. In a machine of the character described,

an abrasive element, a bed plate positioned therebelowfor supporting work as it moves beneath'the abrasive element, means for limiting the vertical movement of the abrasive element away from the bed plate, spring means for supporting the Weight of the abrasive element and means for imparting a reciprocatory lateral movement to the abrasive element.

12. In a machine of the character described,

a rotatable abrasive element, a bed plate positiened therebelow, a shaft connected to theabrasive element for rotating the same, means for rotating the shaft, a bearing for the shaft, a plate positioned above the bearing and in sliding engagement therewith, spring means for supporting the weight of the abrasive element and for holding the bearing in engagement with the plate whereby the lower edge of the abrasive element is maintained at a fixed predetermined distance of the bed plate.

13. In a machine of the character described, a bed plate, a raceway thereon, means for moving 'a series of work pieces in succession along the raceway, the said pieces having grooves in their side edges, means along opposite sides of the raceway engaging in the said grooves, a rotatable abrasive element locatedabove the raceway and adjustable toward or from the same, spring means along the raceway beneath the abrasive element engaging in the grooves of the work pieces to sure contact of the work pieces with the bed plate during the abrading operation whereby the abrading element in re-surfacing the work finishes all the pieces to the same thickness from top to bottom, and means for imparting motion to the abrasive element transversely of the work as it passes therebelow.

14. In a machine of the character described, a bed plate, a raceway thereon, means for moving a series of work pieces in succession along the raceway, the said pieces having grooves in their side edges, means along opposite sides of the raceway engaging in the said grooves, a rotatable abrasive element located above the raceway and adjustable toward or from the same, spring means along the raceway beneath the abrasive element engaging in the grooves of the work pieces to hold the same in contact with the bed plate to insure contact of the work pieces with the bed plate during the abrading operation whereby the abrading element in resurfacing the work finishes all the pieces to the same thickness from top to bottom, means for cleaning the bed contacting faces of the work pieces prior to passing to beneath the abrasive element, and means for imparting motion to the abrasive element transversely of the work as it passes therebelow.

15. In a machine of the character described, a raceway along which rough-surfaced wood type blocks may be moved, means for feeding the blocks in succession along the raceway, a rotary abrasive element movable across the surface of the blocks, the axis of which is at a slight angle to the surface of the work, means for imparting movement to the rotary element laterally of the work and of the axis of rotation whereby as the blocks pass beneath the abrasive element the extent to which the surface is cut away increases as the work is moved therebeneath.

16. In a machine of the character described, a raceway along which work pieces may be moved in succession in end to end contact, means for feeding the work pieces, a rotary sanding wheel, the axis of which is at a slight angle to the plane of movement of the work whereby as the work pieces pass therebeneath the depth of the cut is gradually increased and the thickness of the finished piece determined by the point of the grinding wheel less distant from the surface of the raceway along which the pieces are moved, said sanding wheel having a portion thereof to which the work is first presented of a coarse rapidly cutting character and a portion thereof to which the work pieces are finally submitted of a character to smoothly surface the same.

17. In a machine of the character described, a raceway having an upwardly inclined portion and a horizontal portion connected by a curve of comparatively long radius along which pieces of work may move by gravity, mechanical means in the raceway to which the Work pieces feed by gravity and by which they are fed along the horizontal raceway, a rotary abrasive element, the axis of which extends in the same direction as the blocks are moved and lying at a slight angle to the path of movement of and engaging the blocks as they are passed therebeneath by the feeding L means, and means for causing a reciprocatory movement of the abrasive element transversely of the path of movement of the blocks whereby the said blocks as they pass beneath the abrasive element are gradually surfaced to a predetermined thickness.

CHARLES M. LAMB. 

